ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Palestine
Five dishes to try in Palestine, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Palestine
Musakhan مسخن
Roast chicken on taboon bread with onions, sumac and olive oil.
How to have it: Eaten by hand and shared; the national dish, especially after the olive harvest.
Maqluba مقلوبة
Rice, meat and fried vegetables cooked in a pot and flipped upside down to serve.
How to have it: A Friday family meal; the flip at the table is part of the event.
Falafel فلافل
Fried balls of ground chickpeas and herbs, stuffed in bread with salad.
How to have it: Cheapest breakfast or lunch from street stands; add tahini, pickles and hot sauce.
Ka'ak al-Quds كعك القدس
Long oval sesame bread ring.
How to have it: Bought from carts in Jerusalem's Old City; eaten with za'atar and a boiled egg.
Knafeh كنافة
Hot, soft white cheese under shredded pastry, soaked in syrup.
How to have it: Nablus is the home of knafeh nabulsiyeh; eat it fresh from the tray at a sweet shop.
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Questions
What food is Palestine famous for?
Musakhan (roast chicken on taboon bread with onions, sumac and olive oil) comes first on our list, followed by Maqluba, Falafel, Ka'ak al-Quds and Knafeh.
What is the national dish of Palestine?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Palestine is Musakhan: roast chicken on taboon bread with onions, sumac and olive oil. Eaten by hand and shared; the national dish, especially after the olive harvest.
Which dishes in Palestine are vegetarian?
Three of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Falafel, Ka'ak al-Quds and Knafeh. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Palestine?
Falafel (fried balls of ground chickpeas and herbs, stuffed in bread with salad).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.